Gardening Injuries
Gardening Injuries
By Hayley Matthews MCSP, HCPC at Saltash Physiotherapy Clinic
It’s that time of year with the weather changing and the daffodils flourishing that we all start thinking about our gardens. The first cut of the grass, trimming those hedges and planting the flower beds…. well it also coincides with a busy time for us Physiotherapists with a rise in injuries caused by gardening.
How can you protect yourself ?
Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day and all your gardening doesn’t need doing in one day – pace yourself !
- Divide jobs into light, moderate and hard – don’t do all hard jobs in one session.
- Regular breaks – holding that hedge trimmer at arms length and shoulder height is hard work and a frequent cause of shoulder pain.
- Repetitive clipping with secateurs can lead to elbow pain so have regular breaks.
- Don’t over fill the wheelbarrow – make smaller journeys.
- Always use a kneeling pad to protect your knees.
- If bending over, bend your knees, change position regularly – stand up and lean backwards (with your hands in the small of your back for support) to stretch your spine.
If you are struggling with any problems due to gardening or preventing you from gardening then call us to see if we can help.
Saltash Physiotherapy Clinic has been established for over 30 years and now has a second clinic in Liskeard. Our clinic is Open with strict COVID protocols. We can offer face-to-face appointments or remote sessions. Availability is usually within 48 hours.
When seeking private medical treatments check their registration/qualifications – All Physiotherapists will be HCPC registered.
